DC's New Digital Comics Strategy: Same-Day Releases, Print Copy Bundle

Earlier this week DC announced they would be renumbering and redesigning all of their major characters as well as releasing 52 new number one issues by this fall starting with an all new Justice League by creative team Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. In that same announcement came the reveal of the company's plans to make digital versions of their comic books available  for purchase on the same day of the books' release. Now, DC  has announced even more details about the same day releases of their digital comics. Up until now, if you wanted to read a digital comic and collect a physical copy, you would have to purchase the issue twice; once for your collection, and then a separate digital copy. Not only that, but the digital copy of the comic would often take weeks before it became available for online purchase. However, all that is about to change. Beginning with the first issue of Justice League due in stores this August, when readers purchase the physical issue, they will immediately have access to the digital copy of the comic for download on the same day.
 == TEASER ==

Those who want a physical copy of JUSTICE LEAGUE to read and collect, as well as the ability to download it onto their favorite device for easy transport, get ready. Each print edition of the comic book and an individual code for digital download will be wrapped in a poly bag and available for $4.99. Separately, the standard version will retail for $3.99 and the digital version will retail for $3.99.

For many readers, one of the biggest drawbacks of the digital comic book reading experience was having to purchase the same comic twice and in two different formats. Additionally, the digital version of a comic would often take several weeks before becoming available for download through the DC Comics digital app. 

Both digital and print editions of DC’s comics will have parity pricing for the first four weeks of release; thereafter, the digital titles drop in price down to our standard 1.99 digital price point. Oversized issues, including JUSTICE LEAGUE #1, will start at $3.99 and drop to $2.99 after four weeks.

 Now that digital versions will be available on the day of release and consumers will have the option of downloading the comic after purchasing the physical copy without having to spend more money, we may see a lot more people reading their comics digitally. Not only that, but digital versions of the comics will also be less expensive to purchase than physical comics by a whole dollar. Between the announcement that DC will be renumbering and redesigning their characters, and now making their comics available for purchase on the same day of release, it seems DC Comics is certainly taking a more progressive approach to the industry. The question still remains, how will this affect comic book retailers across the board? Are you happy about having a digital option on the day of release?
 
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